“Most blessed water! neither tongue can tellThe blessedness thereof, nor heart can think,Save only those to whom it hath been givenTo taste of that divinest gift of heaven.“I stoop’d and drank of that divinest well,Fresh from the Rock of Ages where it ran,It had a heavenly quality to quellAll pain: I rose a renovated man;And would not now, when that relief was knownFor worlds the needful suffering have forgone.”
To those unaccustomed to the Water-cure treatment, the Crisis is looked upon as something beyond human endurance; but by those who understand the nature of it, its arrival is hailed with joy, as the forerunner of a favourable termination to their sufferings. A Crisis has a two-fold object, the restoration of the animal functions to the condition of health, and the cure of a disease. It is not therefore a necessary consequence of the treatment; since, if there be no disease, the body is free from vitiated matter, and no eruption can appear; but if noxious matters exist in the system, whatever temporary relief be obtained by drugs or ointment, no permanent beneficial effect can be produced until they are extracted. Otherwise, original health, that is, the same muscular power and elasticity of body proportionately dealt out to all animals, will never be obtained during the life of an individual. Nature, to effect the elimination of non-nutritious matter, may resort to measures imperceptible to the patient, such as evaporation caused by ablutions, by relaxation of the bowels, or other evacuatory means. Although for twelve months, whilst at Gräfenberg, I went through all the necessary processes, I never had any perceptible crisis, except a slight water-rash, and the same may be said of many friends of mine, who have passed through the treatment.
There is a critical period, if the treatment is persevered in: it is when Nature is about to resume her power over the disease, the latter having been attacked, and seeking to escape. It may be compared to a tiger which a man is tempting in his lair: for a time, it lies dormant, occasionally giving signs of existence, when suddenly the animal rouses, and a violent struggle ensues.The man however proves the strongest of the two. In all future attacks too, which are less vigorous, the tiger is defeated, until he finally quits his lair, and flies from his human conqueror. Thus at last are old diseases eradicated. In acute cases, the first rencontre often settles the affair.
Under the Water-cure it frequently happens that every evil and pain is increased in intensity from the fact of the strength being always progressing. The weak and debilitated feel little pain; feebleness has produced insensibility. As the vital force diminishes, in the same proportion are the symptoms less violent; but when strength and vigour are daily gaining ground, so do the symptoms become more vigorous and intense. Nature is in a state of revolution; and, by being reinstated in her rights, she has declared war with all foreign powers that ventured to invest her citadel, and trample upon her rights and laws during the period of her prostration.
An officer in the Prussian army, author of the most concise and best-written work on the Water-cure, told me that at Gräfenberg six years ago he was radically cured of a complication of diseases: that he had the so-called crisis; the first attack was painful and distressing in the extreme; rheumatism returned to each part where he had previously felt it; his foot, which some years before had been trodden upon by a horse, became exceedingly painful; his hands and feet swelled to double their ordinary size, and there was a discharge of an offensive nature from them. This lasted for about ten days. In the course of his cure he had two other attacks, each inferior in intensity to the preceding one. After the last, he found his hearing, of which he had been deprived two years, restored; he could walk as well as ever he did, a necessary pleasure of which rheumatism had deprived him; in fact, he left Gräfenberg a new man, and has ever since been perfectly well. This gentleman said that, whilst in a fortress, with his regiment, almost all the officers, except himself, suffered from influenza, whilst he escaped, from drinking cold water and taking several ablutions a day.
When a crisis is expected, Priessnitz increases the treatment, as he also does when it has made its appearance: instead of discouraging the crisis to proceed, he encourages it by all the means in his power. So that eruptions, boils, fever, diarrhœa, inflammation, or aught else brought out by the treatment, may be gradually reduced by it. In this stage of the Water-cure, no compromise can be made; the fight must be continued until the enemy quits the field.
A lady of my acquaintance, on the appearance of an eruption, gave up the treatment until it disappeared; the eruption took an inward direction and inflammation of the lungs was the consequence: the most vigorous measures were now resorted to by Priessnitz, or her life would, most probably, have paid the forfeit. Another lady was treating herself to great advantage. After some time, when some boils made their appearance, she became uneasy and low-spirited. Alarmed, she left off the cure; the boils receded, and a fever succeeded them, which, as she could not procure advice, ended in a painful illness. When hydropathy was first introduced into England, the death of a clergyman, who had been treated by it, caused a great sensation. This gentleman went to an establishment on the Rhine, where he staid two or three months: on his determining to leave, the doctor, who saw indications of a Crisis, advised him to stay. The patient disregarded this advice and proceeded home; when, as predicted, a number of boils appeared. Mistaking these friends for enemies, he sent for a medical man, who declared the boils to arise from poverty of the blood, administered something to cause them to retire, and advised him to drink wine and beer, and live freely. As might have been expected, the result was fatal.
Had this gentleman been subjected to the Packing-sheet followed by Tepid-bathing; and had the boils been constantly bandaged, his health would, doubtless, have been improved.
I have known patients, whose blood was in an unhealthy state, throw out boils for months; but who, from constantly applying bandages to them, suffered but little inconvenience.
At some of the establishments in Germany, when a crisis is indicated, it is the practice to recommend patients to diminish the treatment or quit it altogether, thus throwing away the golden opportunity of realising health. Whilst at others with a limited knowledge of the Hydropathic treatment, some practitioners resort to Allopathic or Homoæpathic means of mitigating nature’s effort to escape her bonds. Let not such men be trusted: they know not what they do. When in Ireland, I treated a person of advanced age who had been confined to bed for twelve months. In two days he was ableto walk out on crutches. After I left, a large boil came in his back: not understanding the matter he gave up the treatment. Instead of the boil being forced to a head, it retired, and he fell into his old state. Had this boil been encouraged to a large size, the patient would, after its bursting, have felt much relief.
It is a common practice, under medical treatment, to open a boil, and thus put an end to it—a quick method, no doubt, of affording relief; but the morbific matters that could have accumulated there, and been eliminated by it, remain in the system. Fevers again, under our medical treatment, are suppressed; whilst in the Water-cure, the morbific heat is extracted by the pores, and the whole system cooled through the medium of the mucous membrane or skin.
It is in a crisis, that the mind of the great Water-king is made manifest. Such is the unbounded confidence of patients in him, that most of them ardently desire to pass through this ordeal. It must be observed, that, though it is sometimes a painful period, the assuaging power of the bandages, the non-necessity of confinement or abstinence from the usual diet, and the perfect security every one feels as to the result, renders it endurable. It is at the same time equally true, and worthy the attention of any one about to undertake the cure, that during the revivifying process, weakness and lassitude are the pregnant attendants of the early part of it; and greatly disappointed would be that new aspirant to health who should fancy that all wascouleur de rose. It is an old saying, and perhaps true, that all good things cost money or trouble; and the attainment of health, by the removal of long-standing complaints through the water-cure, is no exception to the rule. It is a delusion to suppose that inveterate diseases are to be cured by the water treatment, as by miracle, without suffering. Moral energy and firmness are necessary to go right through the ordeal. In such circumstances the patient must exert all his fortitude to adhere strictly to the instructions that are given to him.
A frequent argument made use of against drinking water is, that it produces dropsy. Now, if this were true, it must be evident such a complaint ought not to exist amongst us—forwhoever heard of an Englishman drinking too much water? On the contrary, the English nation is remarkable for an almost hydrophobic dislike to it.
The more the human body has been saturated with drugs, alcohols, and other foreign matters, the greater is the necessity for a free action of the pores and perspiration, because by these agents it seeks to relieve itself of diseased matter. When the skin is relaxed or incumbered by that oily exhalation which is constantly exuding from the pores, and too often suffered to remain on the surface, fluids collect beneath the skin and cause inflammation—this is called dropsy.
One of the greatest promoters of dropsy, as every medical man knows, is the lancet, by which the good blood is extracted and a watery fluid substituted. Strong poisons of whatever nature they may be, either mercury, blue pill, calomel, bark, iodine, or any other of the ten thousand drugs from which relief is sought, and for which alcohols or other stimulants are persevered in, tend to vitiate the juices, and produce gout, dropsy, and numberless complaints from which the habitual water-drinker is exempt.
No modern writer on dropsy attributes it to drinking water, nor, observes Dr. Johnson, is there anything in the physiology of the capillary system of vessels which can warrant such an opinion; on the contrary,drinking largely of diluting liquids is always recommended as an important partof the cure of dropsy. Dr. Gregory, author of the Theory and Practice of Medicine, states that “no diuretic medicines are likely to be of service, without very copious dilution;” and adds, “there cannot be a greater errorthan to imagine that dropsical accumulations may be lessened by withholding liquid.”
From the returns of 1841, within the city of London and bills of mortality, amongst a people opposed to the use of cold water in any way, we find that from dropsy alone the deaths amounted to 584.
Is not this fact alone sufficient to carry conviction to our minds, that dropsy is not the effect of water drinking? It may be safely affirmed that those who never take physic and who adhere to a water diet, will never be attacked with dropsy.
This complaint, except when of long standing, or under very extraordinary circumstances, is generally curable.
“Though smoking is decidedly prejudicial to health, it is not so bad as drinking to excess.”
“Smoking irritates the nerves and promotes the secretion of saliva, which is withdrawn from digestion.”5
“By blunting the nerves, a man, as in drinking, may stand a great deal of smoking without being visibly affected by it.”
“A person who, previously to undergoing the water-cure, could drink a gallon of fermented liquor, may, after it, be affected by a single glass—from the fact of his nerves having recovered their sensibility.”
“Persons who previously to the treatment were great smokers, are frequently rendered ill by very little smoking after it.”
“The nerves are strong and vigorous in proportion to their sensibility and freshness.—He who goes through a thorough water-cure treatment, gains a great moral as well as physical command over himself.”
“It is generally the weak and debilitated who are the most sensual and debauched.”
“The sound man has purer tastes, independent of his greater self-command.”
“We find amongst the children of nature, amongst simple peasants who have had but little contact with civilisation, the purest virtue and truest feelings of honor.”—Priessnitz.
Observations.—Persons who consider themselves in health, will derive advantage by six weeks’ or two months’ treatment at Gräfenberg, and will learn how to apply it to themselves or families.
Parents will there acquire the habit of using cold water, be prepared to ward off disease from themselves, and learn, by simple means, how to preserve the health of their children.
Officers in the army, who have an insight into hydropathy, will have nothing to fear from epidemics; they will find thatfevers and inflammations are diseases which form the easiest part of Mr. Priessnitz’ practice.
The water at Gräfenberg has no advantage over that which we find everywhere, except that it is peculiarly cold and fresh. In the general purposes of the cure, water should be soft, that is to say, it must possess the quality of dissolving, and for this reason it must be cold, and divested of all mineral properties; for to prove its fitness, linen cloth washed in it must become white, and vegetables dressed in it tender. Trout living in water does not prove its softness, but frogs do; the softest of all waters is the rain. Hard water makes the skin rough, but soft water, on the contrary, renders it smooth. When water, with the slightest acidity in it, has been suffered to remain in leaden pipes, pumps or cisterns for any length of time, it absorbs the dangerous qualities of the lead; and this has been known to produce serious consequences. It is necessary, therefore, that water should be drawn off before any is drunk.
Those who wish to begin ablutions in winter, should do so in a warm room, and as a beginning, instead of washing, they may wet a towel, and with it be well rubbed all over twice a day, or use the rubbing-sheet. The morning immediately on getting out of bed, is the best time for the first ablution; the other should be undertaken two or three hours after eating,neveron a full stomach, nor immediately after making any great exertion. The rubbing should be continued from three to five minutes.
It is conceived that one ablution a-day, and the drinking of cold water, will enable those who are in health, and in the enjoyment of life, to continue in that state. After any excess, instead of resorting to drugs, the rubbing sheet should be resorted to, and an increase in cold water as a beverage. The same means may be resorted to by persons who have any reason to suppose that they have caught cold.
In answer to the question, whether there is not some risk of catching cold whilst washing, we answer, “Not the least.” There is no better way of guarding against colds, or of hardening the skin, to contend with atmospheric changes. But in cold weather it is as well that all the body should be wetted simultaneously. Even in cold weather the temperature of the room to which the body is exposed, is higher or warmer thanthe water used, which cannot, in consequence, produce a cold. The contrary remark may be applied to warm water, as we have all experienced on getting out of a warm bath even in summer. A Russian lady of the author’s acquaintance took awarmbath immediately after dinner, the result was, a want of reaction, and a complete paralysation of the whole of one side of the body.
Before entering cold water, we ought to wash the head and the chest, in order to prevent the blood ascending to those regions.
People, without knowing whether hot or mineral waters will be beneficial or otherwise, make use of them because it is the fashion so to do, or because their application is agreeable. A little reflection would show them that there will not be a wholesome reaction; that taken inwardly they must necessarily injure or destroy the coats of the stomach; and when applied outwardly, weaken the skin, thereby rendering the body susceptible to every change of weather.
Those who resort to sea-bathing in general pay little or no attention to diet. To derive advantage from a trip to any of our watering places, the latter, for the time at least, should be attended to.
The fact that the action of the human heart is repeated at least one hundred thousand times a-day, with sufficient force to keep in continual movement a mass of from 50 to 60 lbs. of blood, might lead to the inquiry what watch, what machinery could be more easily deranged? Can we wonder at men being ill who are constantly eating too much, who indulge in acid wines, in thick and adulterated beer, or spirituous liquors, or hot liquids of whatsoever nature they may be?
Few of us sufficiently appreciate pure cold water. What will not man submit to rather than adopt such means of cure—adapt himself to such self-denial? What pain will he not endure; what poisons swallow or rub into his flesh, rather than consent to seek relief from such a humble source?
Animals, when thirsty, repair to the brook to quench their thirst; when wounded, to assuage the pain. Water is nature’s medicine and man despises it.
What organic matter can grow or live without water? We know that animals or plants excluded from its influence die. Observe the vivifying effects of water upon vegetation after ashower. Then what shall be said to vain, short-sighted man, who sets nature’s laws at defiance, by avoiding what they enjoin, and indulging in what they interdict? Why should he live without water more than all else that has life? It may be answered “He does not live his time;” for every day’s experience proves that more than half the inhabitants of the civilised world are tormented by one disease or another, which causes them to die before the natural term of life is completed. This, evidently, was not the intention of Divine Providence, since water, found every where, will prevent or cure disease, enable human beings to attain a good old age, and die without pain.
Stiffened joints, the dull eye, thickness of breathing, an unnatural tendency to corpulency, wrinkles, baldness, bad sight, and sallowness of complexion, are failings which clearly indicate an habitual distaste for water. It cannot be doubted, that in many of these cases, the mere drinking plentifully of water, and washing the body once a day, would afford relief. If they had always been accustomed to this they would not have been thus affected.
What numbers of weakly, crippled children we see? “Parents, do you wash their bodies; do you encourage them in the drinking of water? If not, you are instrumental to their future misery: you deprive them of the power of being healthy in life, or attaining to longevity.” In looking around on the organic world, we cannot but admire the perfection everything seems to attain—the noblest work of creation an exception; we exclaim, with Goldsmith, “Man seems the only growth that dwindles here.”
“Health is the natural state of man.
“The causes of bodily disease, not proceeding from external injury, are material, and consist of foreign matters introduced into the system.
“These foreign matters are divided into four parts:—
“I. Bodily substances which have not been eliminated in proper time.
“II.Substances not assimilated, and notwithstanding which, remain in the stomach, the skin, or the interior.
“Contagious ulcers.
“Corrupted elements; epidemical diseases.
“Every acute disease is an attempt to dispel diseased matter.
“Fever is not a disease, but the consequence of it; it is an effect of an exertion greater than the power of the system.
“The radical healing of acute diseases is only possible by releasing the diseased matter, by means of water, an agent which invariably effects its object, and that always in a manner perceptible to the senses.
“By means of physic and bleeding, acute diseases become chronic; the system, medically treated, effects a partial, but never a total ejection of diseased matter.
“As sooner or later a body must yield to the effects of drugs, it is quite impossible that any one suffering from chronic disease, unless healed by Hydropathy, should die a natural death.
“Chronic disease cannot be permanently cured by drugs: Hydropathy alone will effect this, by changing the chronic evil to acute eruptions, which are cured in the same way that acute diseases are cured.
“Men, like other organic beings, ought to live according to nature’s law, without pain, and die a natural death, that is to say, without illness or suffering. But with us almost every body dies prematurely, from the effects of poisoning in some way or other.”—Arbuthnot.
It was stated to Priessnitz, that in a case of gout, the bowels of the patient by the treatment, had become constipated, to which he replied, “Cold water never produces torpor of the bowels, but on the contrary, it excites.”
“In the cure of disease, that which is most agreeable is not always the best. That which lowers the system, generally soothes and allays pain; bleeding, drugs, opium, and warm baths do this, but they may fix the disease firmer in the system, they diminish the energy so necessary to eradicate the disease. Thus Gout, Piles, and many other complaints, are never thoroughly cured by the faculty; they cannot abate the symptoms without lowering the system.”
“To promote a crisis, dress lightly; warm clothing relaxes the skin. The stronger and harder the skin, the better will a crisis be developed. Every sore and boil cannot be considered a crisis, some degenerate into disease, and have an inward tendency. In a proper crisis of boils, they rise, burst, and heal.”
“For itching rash in the arm, do not wear the bandage, unless great pain ensues, and in that case only at night.”
“Chopping or sawing wood is better exercise for the stomach and bowels than walking.”
To a lady who complained of want of sleep, and much pain from an eruption on her body, Priessnitz said “Take a tepid bath for some days, eat lean meat without salt, and indulge freely in butter, you will get well as soon as the rash has expended itself: there can be no repose for the nerves until the humours that fret them are expelled.”
“Nervous temperaments are the strongest, but most irritable when excited by acid humours.”
“Fingers being white after cold bathing denote weak nerves; the fingers having lost their vitality, the blood ceases to circulate.”
“Constipation and relaxation of the bowels proceed from the same causes, weakness and impurities; hydropathy corrects both.”
“It is impossible to warm, for any length of time, by hot viands and warm water, their constant application only chills the more; by relaxing and dilating they produce the opposite effects to those which are so essential to health, namely Contraction. Cold water determines the Caloric currents outwards from the vital centre, and promotes decomposition.”
“I cannot understand how drugs can reach any destined point; it appears to me that all drugs are inimical to the human subject.”
“Medicine introduced into the system, like the venom of a serpent, permeates all the tissues.”
“Mercury becomes enveloped in phlegm or slime, and remains in the system, notwithstanding the body is continually subjected to the laws of renovation and decay.”
“Powerful medicines act speedily and detrimentally to the constitution. The Water-cure is slow but advantageous in its operations.”
“The wet sheet, which is in fact, a poultice, extracts pernicious matters, as a sponge water from a basin, and brings something away each time it is immersed in it.”
1.—Q. What should be done for:—
Severe cold settled on the lungs, attended with cough and expectoration?
A. Rub the chest and throat with cold water, and hold water in the mouth often. In cold climates, bandage the throat: in warm climates, washing it often is best.
2.—Q. Inflammation and soreness of throat attended with hoarseness and difficulty in speaking?
A. As No. 1.
3.—Q. Exposure to change of climate with clothes occasionally wet, attended with shivering?
A. Rubbing-sheets.
4.—Q. Continual public speaking of damp evenings?
A. Rubbing-sheets. Wash head well. A foot-bath for a long time; and take exercise afterwards until feet are warm.
5.—Q. Cold accompanied by fever and restlessness at night?
A. As No. 4.
6.—Q. Head-ache occasioned by excitement?
A. As No. 4.
7.—Q. Shooting pain and tightness across the chest?
A. As No. 4, and rub the chest well with wet hand.
8.—Q. How guard against the effects of a damp atmosphere?
A. Keep the throat and chest always bare; if kept close and warm they will soon become relaxed. Parts most used should be exposed to the air.
9.—Q. At present I am packed for half an hour, and take the plunge bath at 5a.m.Douche for three minutes at 12. Two Abreibungs and a Sitz-bath for half an hour at 5p.m.If I remain the summer, should I continue or diminish this cure?
A. Continue it certainly for a month, and then begin to diminish it, leaving off the Douche for instance.
10.—Q. If continued, might I take the Douche after my walk in the morning before breakfast, and the Abreibungs at mid-day, so as to have my afternoons free?
A. Some cure must be taken after dinner as a rule; but in case of necessity the cure may be shirked.
11.—Q. Ought I to continue any part of the treatment on leaving Gräfenberg, and what?
A. Washing morning and evening, either bath or Abreibung.
12.—Q. After leaving must I attend to the same diet, and abstain entirely from Wine, Coffee, and Tea? or may I indulge in them continuously in small quantities, or only occasionally?
A. Wine, Coffee and Tea may be taken now and then, but by no means regularly.
13.—Q. On any return of my old complaints, blistered mouth, indigestion, restlessness, uneasy sensations in the back and side, what portion of the cure should I have recourse to?
A. The old complaints ought not to return, and will not if the cure is carried through the summer; on the appearance of any of them, they must be treated the same as they were here.
14.—Q. The sensations mentioned before now return sometimes; but vanish after a few days’ severe treatment. It is only since the last month that my limbs and muscles have appeared to recover their tone and firmness, and enlarge.
A. Both of these observations speak volumes for the continuance of the cure, as one cannot do too much: but one may easily do too little; and it would be highly advisable to keep on cleansing and strengthening every possible way.
15.—Q. Should I continue any of the treatment for the child?
A. Bathe the child every morning and evening, that is, cold washing, by means of bath or Abreibungs.
16.—Q. Might I myself treat her in the cases of measles and scarlatina, and how?
A. In case of slight fever, a rubbing-sheet and Umschlag; but it is impossible to prescribe beforehand how these diseases are to be treated, as one cannot know how the child may be affected. If the fever is severe, more wet sheets or rubbing-sheets must be used than if it is slight. The criterion of treatment is the degree of fever.
Great difference of opinion exists as to the cause of gout. Ancient physicians called it the daughter of Bacchus and Venus; and truly persons, or their progeny, devoted to these two divinities, offer the greatest number of examples.
To cure this complaint, the ingenuity of thousands of scientific men has been taxed, and the whole pharmacopœia applied to in vain. Perspiration is mostly resorted to; but as this is effected by warm baths, vapour baths, or drugs, the consequences are so debilitating that few constitutions can bear them. The result of all medical treatment in this disease is, the degradation of robust constitutions, and the promotion of diseases worse than the gout itself.
Volumes might be written on the various remedial measures which have been resorted to in this complaint, and of which time has shewn the fallacy. We now ask the invalid, if he ever knew the gout radically cured by any pharmaceutical means? Were Hydropathists asked whether they ever knew cases of gout cured by water, they would unhesitatingly answer in the affirmative. Incipient gout is always curable. The same may be said of chronic gout, except in isolated cases: then Hydropathy invariably gives relief; and by regulating the functions of the body, improves the general health.
The following treatment and cases will shew how the manipulation is varied, to combat this disease in its manifold forms:—
Gout cannot be cured by local applications; the whole system must be purified by a general treatment, or no permanent cure can be effected.
For occasional attacks of gout in the extremities, the constitution being otherwise robust:—
In the morning, put a bandage on the part affected, pack the patient in blankets (sweating process) until perspiration appears in the face.
Then put him into the half-bath—water 62° to 65° Fahr.; let him be well rubbed in this from 5 to 25 minutes, or until friction can be applied to all parts alike. Cold water should beoccasionally poured over head and shoulders during the operation. This ended, put bandages round the waist and on the afflicted part.
For the second treatment:—About mid-day, rubbed in a packing-sheet; take a sitz-bath for fifteen minutes—first time tepid 64°, afterwards cold; then put the offending member into cold water for ten or fifteen minutes, and renew bandages.
In the afternoon, at 5 o’clock, repeat mid-day treatment. During the day, drink ten to fourteen tumblers of water.
The above treatment will generally put an end to a slight attack of gout; but to eradicate it from the system, the cure must be followed up. To effect this, for the sweating process on the second day, substitute the packing-sheet until warm, which generally requires the patient to lie in it from thirty minutes to an hour.
Where a bath cannot be obtained, the rubbing sheet is used instead; this should be very little wrung out, and if one does not cool the body, a second or a third should be applied.
The douche is often applied in gout; but as that cannot be the case in ordinary practice, the practitioner must use his discretion in prescribing it.
It is good treatment to use the sweating process in the morning, and the packing-sheet in the afternoon.
The bandages must be worn day and night, and changed often.
Cases.—A patient, fifty years of age, with rheumatic gout, bad digestion, nervousness, fingers blue and swollen, slight pain in the knee, much debilitated, was ordered:—In the morning, five rubbing sheets, two or three minutes each, allowing a short interim between each. At noon, the same. At five o’clock, the same. Ten tumblers of water daily. Bandages to parts affected, and round the loins always. On the patient experiencing great pain under the knees, the morning treatment was changed to lying in packing-sheets until well warmed, followed by the tepid bath. Patient soon improved in health.
A——, forty-six years of age, suffered fifteen years from periodical attacks of gout, and had his last severe attack in his feet, hands, and elbows, accompanied by paralysis, which affected his voice.
Treatment.—Laid in packing-sheet until perspiration ensued (two or three hours); then tepid bath renewed by cold water being thrown over head and shoulders; noon, rubbing-sheet, followed by sitz-bath 62° for fifteen minutes; cold foot-bath fifteen minutes, and head-bath ten minutes; afternoon, morning treatment repeated.
Alternate days, sweating in blankets instead of the sheets; all other treatment the same as before.
This continued treatment was persevered in for ten weeks, when patient was prescribed sweating in the morning, and packing-sheet in the afternoon, followed by cold bath. Sitz and foot-baths as before; head-bath discontinued. Shortly after, sweating twice a day, with foot-baths, fifteen minutes in the middle of the day. Sitz-baths dispensed with. This treatment at the end of six weeks was again changed for perspiring only once a day, for three hours. Patient was at length ordered to discontinue the treatment altogether, and proceed to the sea-side for a month. Soon after his return again to Gräfenberg, he was able to walk fifteen miles at a time, as is seen by his own letter.
B——, fifty-six years of age, suffering from Gout upwards of seventeen years, generally incapacitated from following his occupation seven or eight months in a year. Feet and hands distorted.
Treatment.—Packing sheet and tepid-bath in morning and afternoon, and sitz and foot-bath, each fifteen minutes; at noon, bandages round the waist. After a week’s treatment, a fit of gout came on in foot and ankle, which was combated by packing-sheet and tepid bath before breakfast; tepid sitz-bath at noon, and the morning treatment repeated in the afternoon. After three days, a boil began to form under the left jaw; treatment continued, with the exception of patient’s going (after the packing-sheet), into tepid bath for two minutes, then into the cold bath for two minutes, and back to the tepid, from ten to fifteen minutes.
In eight days, gout returned with greater violence, when recourse was had to the packing-sheet, as before; with tepid baths from twenty minutes to an hour, besides following up other parts of the treatment. In seven or eight days the fit quite subsided. Some time after this he had a relapse,which patient stated to me, under the allopathic treatment, would have confined him to his room at least six months; this was treated as follows:—
Packing-sheet until warm, followed by tepid bath, ten minutes; then walked about the room for a quarter of an hour; then the bath again for a quarter of an hour, a respite of a few minutes, and the bath a third time.
Two hours after the above operation, a tepid sitting-bath 62°, for twenty minutes.
In the afternoon the packing-sheet and bath as before. This treatment was repeated, every day for six days, when patient was out of doors again.
From this time patient felt himself so changed a man, that the author saw him cry with joy. He could use his limbs as he had not done for many years, and to prove it, ran up a hill with astonishing alacrity. Three days treatment were sufficient to reduce the swelling of his knuckles, toes, and hands.
This patient, on his first arrival, Mr. Priessnitz ordered, without any previous preparation, into a tepid bath, where he was rubbed upwards of an hour.
C——, aged forty. Gout generally returned in summer.
Treatment.—Morning, and afternoon, packing-sheet, tepid bath; noon, douche, three minutes.
After six weeks treatment, strong redness and much pain to the conjunctiva; douche omitted.
Sitz-baths of from an hour to an hour and a half; foot-baths; cold wet bandages to the eye, which became effected.
Then sweating processes, with wet bandages to the head, which afforded relief.
Alternate tepid, cold and tepid baths for a quarter of an hour; immediately after the packing-sheet, foot-bath and water poured over the ancle. Eyes still red; foot-bath resorted to three times a day, followed by rubbing sheet, instead of the bath and bandage to the eye. Eyes could bear the light. Patient’s appetite good and sleep sound. At night his arms, head, and most of his body were covered with bandages.
In three weeks, patient’s whole body covered with an eruption; recourse again had to the packing-sheet and tepid bath twice a day. From this time health improved daily.
D——, a gouty subject, forty-five years of age. Priessnitz, called up in the middle of the night, found the Baron labouring under an attack of gout in his chest and stomach, which almost prevented his breathing. He was immediately put into a packing-sheet for from five to ten minutes, and out of that into a tepid bath, where two men rubbed him for a quarter of an hour; cold water being continually thrown over his head and shoulders; this effectually put an end to the attack, and the patient afterwards slept soundly until the time for his usual treatment next morning. This case shows that the fear of this treatment driving gout to the stomach, is groundless and it combats a dangerous attack, and quicker than it can be done by any other means.
Hereditary Gout.—E——, a Polish nobleman, fifty-four years of age, suffered two winters from hereditary gout, which had existed in his family for upwards of forty years.
He was attacked in his feet and arms, which confined him to his bed several months.
Treatment:—In the mornings, packing-sheet and tepid bath; noon, rubbing-sheet followed by sitz-bath, fifteen minutes; afternoon, rubbing-sheet.
In eighteen days he had boils on his feet and arms, from which matter continued to exude for three or four weeks; at the expiration of which Priessnitz said, “Now we will increase the treatment, to see if any more bad matter remains in the system.”
The sweating process and cold bath were now resorted to three or four times a week; the packing-sheet and cold bath other days; and the douche every day for three minutes. This treatment was continued for several weeks, during which no change of any kind was produced, a confirmation of the cure being effected.
On leaving Gräfenberg, Priessnitz advised him to return the next year, to see if the cure was a radical one.
In 1845, the Count returned, when he was subjected to a most vigorous treatment, such as sweating, douche, etc., for a month, without any return of gout.
On leaving Gräfenberg he assured me, that he was not only cured of gout; but that his digestive powers, which foryears had been deranged, were in perfect order, and that his general health was completely restored.
Sixteen years previous to the Count’s going to Gräfenberg, he had his elbow wounded by a ball in a duel, which occasionally caused him great pain. For the cure of this, he, at the time, rubbed in a yellow ointment. Singular to say, after a lapse of sixteen years, during a crisis, this ointment re-appeared on the elbow and arm, so thick as to be taken off with the finger. The exuding of this ointment lasted about eight days. Since the cure of his gout was effected, the arm has been pliant, and the elbow has been free from pain.
Gout in Head and Feet.—F——, a German professor, aged sixty; a small delicate man, with gout in both hands and both feet: all were contracted, he had been a martyr to gout for years and upwards, when a paroxysm of gout came on the following morning.
The following treatment was resorted to. Morning, packing-sheet until thoroughly warm; then tepid bath 64° for two hours, during which time 200 cans of cold water were thrown over his head and shoulders.
Twenty-five cans were first thrown; then great friction for some time; then twenty-five cans more, followed by friction; and so repeated until two hundred cans had been thrown over him.
Heating bandages were applied to all parts afflicted, and kept there day and night.
The above treatment was resorted to again in the afternoon.
One paroxysm that I witnessed, lasted three weeks. It was astonishing to see the courage displayed by this patient.
Each operation afforded relief for the time; but the enemy had strong hold upon the system, and was ejected with difficulty.
During all the time the patient had a good appetite and slept soundly at night.
He was still under the cure when I left Gräfenberg. Priessnitz said, to effect this cure, it would require at least four years’ treatment, which the patient said he would prefer to a renewal of the suffering he had already undergone, previously to coming to Gräfenberg.
Calcareous Deposit in the Knees, and high state of Inflammation.—The last case shews how the human body may be exposed to the action of water, with friction, for any length of time. The present case is that of an English Gentleman, well known to all visitors at Gräfenberg.
G——, aged between 50 and 60, gouty for the last twenty years, with contraction of the limbs, chalk stones having formed in the joints. This patient travelled from Italy to Gräfenberg during the heat of summer, and, on arriving, had a most painful attack of gout in his lower extremities.
Priessnitz, without the least preparation, put him into a tepid bath, and he was rubbed by three men for nearly three hours, occasionally throwing pails of cold water over his head and shoulders. This so reduced the inflammation, that, towards the end of that period, the afflicted part might also be rubbed with the wet hand.
Heating bandages were then applied to those parts and the waist.
Water was drunk plentifully during and after the operation.
Patient was able afterwards to get out of doors with the use of sticks, and slept well at night.
Next morning he began the regular treatment, which was as follows:—
Packing-sheet until warm; then the bath as before for about two hours; noon, rubbing-sheet and sitz-bath, fifteen minutes; afternoon, morning process renewed.
Mr. Priessnitz told this patient that, by the following means, he might always ward off a violent attack of gout:—
On feeling the slightest sensation of gout, he should instantly be put into a tepid bath, 62 deg., replenished with cold water, and be therein rubbed for a couple of hours.
This gentleman’s general health is perfect: he very seldom has any attacks, and they are slight; but the calcareous deposit in his knees, up to the present, resists all attempts at removal.
Acute attack of Gout.—A patient being attacked with gout was put into a tepid bath, 68 deg., up to the neck, and rubbed by himself and two men. By particular injunctions, the process was not to be discontinued until all pain subsided. The original temperature of the bath was maintained by fresh supplies of cold water. In seven hours the patient was completely relieved. His after-treatment was:—
Morning, packing-sheet and plunge-bath, bandage round the waist and on part afflicted; at noon, douche, and afterwards a rubbing-sheet; afternoon, rubbing-sheet; the simplest food. On a return of the acute attack, patient was ordered to perform the bath operation again; but, not persevering in remaining seven hours in the bath, the attack was not overcome: the patient was then ordered cold bath every morning before breakfast (temperature kept always as cold as possible), from fifteen to twenty minutes, which effected the cure. This patient was allowed a little weak chocolate, and was ordered to drink abundantly of water.
A—— had a most violent attack at Gräfenberg, for which he was put up to his neck into a tepid bath, 64 deg., and there rubbed by two men forsevenhours. Priessnitz gave particular orders that the patient should not leave the bath until all pain had completely subsided. Cold water was frequently added, to keep that in the bath at the original temperature. By these means the attack was completely subdued. Daily treatment:—
Morning, packing-sheet and cold plunge-bath; bandage to be applied to parts affected; noon, douche, and sitz-bath, fifteen minutes; afternoon, as in the morning.
Instructions:—Eat plain food; and in case of a return of gout, faithfully perform the first operation.
Gout in the Foot and Ankle.—A lady awoke in the morning with pain in her foot and ankle, which were both swollen.
Treatment.—Packing-sheet for an hour, followed by a rubbing-sheet; after which a foot-bath, up to the instep, for a quarter of an hour; and the foot and leg, up to the knee, well rubbed all the time.
Bandages were then applied from the toes to the knee.
At noon, and in the afternoon, the foot-bath was again applied, and the bandages were changed.
This simple treatment put an end to the attack in two days. If it had not done so, it ought to have been repeated.
Gout, rheumatism, sciatica, lumbago, tic doloureux, and neuralgia, all being attended with inflammation, are so nearly allied, that the same treatment as for gout, with slight variation, might be applied to any or all of them.
Rheumatism.—On a slight attack of rheumatism, rub the part affected with wet hands three times a day, from a quarter of an hour to an hour each time; then apply a bandage, which change when dry, and wear it until the pain ceases.
Rub the body all over with a wet towel, then a dry one; wait five minutes, then repeat the same operation four times in succession: this will animate the circulation. Then apply a bandage as in the case of gout. This treatment should be applied several times a day. Rheumatic subjects ought never to be overclothed, wear flannel, or fail drinking water.
When the attack is more severe, three rubbing-sheets in succession, allowing an interim of from three to five minutes between each. The body must be dried after each rubbing-sheet; this increases the effect of the next rubbing-sheet. Rub the parts affected often with wet hands, and apply bandages. This treatment may be repeated three or four times a day. If there is a great want of circulation, the patient may lie in bed until warm, between the application of each rubbing-sheet.
Neuralgic Pains.—Whatever the nature of these pains may be (supposing the patient not too debilitated), perspiration will generally be found to relieve them. To effect this:—
When in bed in the morning, add a number of blankets, and on them a feather-bed: there remain until in a profuse perspiration; then cool the body, either by rubbing-sheets, a cold bath,—or get a washing-tub, stand up in it, and have some jugs of water poured over the head and shoulders. This very often settles the affair at once.
A patient was afflicted in every joint so that he could not be moved in bed without great pain.
Packing-sheets until warm, which required about half anhour, ten times a day, allowing an interval between them. Each packing sheet was followed by a rubbing with wet hands.
This treatment in one day enabled patient to stand; then the packing sheets were used four times a day, followed by rubbing sheets. Parts affected and loins always enclosed in bandages. Patient drank sixteen to twenty glasses of water a day. He was out of doors the third day, and afterwards pursued a more vigorous treatment, such as sweating, douche, &c.
A——, had a severe rheumatic attack in both knees; he thought swinging his legs backwards and forwards would relieve him; instead of which, it brought on enlargement of the joints and inflammation: whilst at Gräfenberg I inquired of Priessnitz what he ought to have done.—
Answer—He ought in, the first instance, to have rubbed the knees well and often with wet hands and worn a bandage. If this was not sufficient, then to have put the feet and legs, over the knees into cold water for half an hour at least, rubbing them all the time, and apply a bandage from the calf of the leg to the middle of the thigh.
Chronic Rheumatism.—A——, contracted rheumatism in 1837, which commenced as sciatica. Constitution greatly debilitated. Medical advice, sea baths, hot baths, and other remedies, useless.
Patient went to Gräfenberg, August 1843, and left in May following.
Treatment.—Packing-sheet, followed by cold bath twice a-day; noon, sitz-bath and foot-bath, fifteen minutes each; legs rubbed all the time up to the knee. Douche three minutes daily.
In November, one of his usual attacks came on, when sixteen rubbing sheets a-day were resorted to. Four of these were given in succession four times a-day; between each rubbing sheet, the patient being weak lay down in bed, until warm bandages were applied as usual.
This attack subsided after the second day, when patient renewed his former treatment.
B——, travelling in North America, and exposed to severerains without the means of changing his clothes, suffered the consequences such circumstances frequently entail. Rheumatism almost beyond endurance induced him to go to Gräfenberg.
At the first interview, Priessnitz put him first into a tepid bath 64 deg., out of which he plunged into a cold bath, where he staid about a minute, and from that he returned again to the tepid, when bandages were applied to his waist and parts affected.
Treatment.—Morning, packing-sheet until warm, then cold bath; noon, rubbing-sheet; afternoon, packing-sheet, twenty minutes, and then rubbing-sheet again.
Left Gräfenberg in a month, during which time patient used the rubbing-sheet mornings and evenings; exposed his body (after that in the morning) quite naked in his room, from a quarter to half an hour.
On returning to Gräfenberg, the douche was substituted for the rubbing-sheet at noon. After continuing the treatment for some time, rheumatism returned, when he was ordered three rubbing-sheets five minutes each, twice a-day; between each an air bath of five minutes.
A crisis of boils ensued, and after they healed, patient was perfectly well. The patient writes to a friend—“I now leave Gräfenberg with a clean body, and a sincere wish for your own speedy cure, and that of all the agreeable acquaintances that I leave behind me, under the safe care of our virtuous and sagacious friend V. Priessnitz.”
Chronic Rheumatism, Chronic Headache, Constipation, Piles, &c.—A Gentleman, aged about 45, was treated as follows:—
Morning, sweating process and cold bath, three minutes; noon, douche, three minutes; an hour afterwards, sitz-bath fifteen minutes; foot-bath fifteen minutes; head-bath ten minutes; one following the other immediately; afternoon, noon treatment over again; all night—loins, feet, legs, and thighs, to the fork, were encased in bandages.
In a few months, rheumatism, piles, and constipation were cured, but head-ache returned at intervals.
Rheumatic attack in the Back, Shoulders, and Neck.—The sweating process, followed by three rubbing-sheets not much wrung out, applied without intermission for five minutes each,put an end to the attack at once. If this number of rubbing-sheets had not cooled the body, more must have been used.
Had rheumatism continued, rubbing-sheets must have been resorted to again in the afternoon, and the sweating resumed the next day.
Rheumatic Fever.—For a slight attack of rheumatic fever, three rubbing-sheets three times a-day were found sufficient.
Rheumatic Gout.—A gentleman named Heymann, about 34 years of age, at the fire at Hamburg was exposed to the wet from the engines for several days and nights. The result was, a violent attack of rheumatic gout; first in the knees and feet, then neck and arms; afterward in hip and both breasts, which confined him to bed a whole year, from April 1843 to April 1844. During this time he took large quantities of medicine, and used steam and sulphur baths: about seventy of the former, and near a hundred of the latter. Also mud and sulphur baths, which enabled him to walk for about a month, when he was again confined to bed. Gout having attacked the breast, both his medical attendants declared they could do no more. 1st May, 1844, he was conveyed to Gräfenberg, so crippled that he could not dress himself. He began the treatment as follows:—
Morning, packing-sheet and tepid bath; noon, three rubbing-sheets, at intervals of five minutes, with open windows; afternoon, packing-sheet one hour, and tepid bath; bandage round the body, and from ankles to knees during the night.
Pain increasing, parts affected were rubbed with wet hands both day and night until they became hot. Body entirely bandaged by night. Bandage changed three or four times as pain resulted from the bandages being dry.
At the expiration of three months, patient enabled to walk out. Treatment changed.
Morning, packing-sheet and tepid bath; noon, one rubbing-sheet, followed by sitz-bath for quarter of an hour; douche before and after breakfast for three minutes; then morning and evening packing-sheet and bath; tepid for two minutes; then cold one minute and back to tepid bath for two minutes, instead of an entire tepid bath.
Two months’ continuation of this treatment brought outan eruption around the body, and on the calves of the legs; also a strong fever which lasted nine days, which was succeeded by boils.
Then three packing-sheet a-day were applied, and tepid, cold, and tepid baths; continually changing from one to another for an hour and a half. Douche and rubbing-sheet stopped during the fever.
The eruption continued for three months, discharging whitish brown matter. During all this time the last treatment was persevered in.
The eruption and boils gave great relief. When pain was diminished and the eruption ceased, the body bandage was relinquished and those of the waist and calves retained, and cold bath for one minute, succeeded the packing sheet.
1st April, 1845. Douche, from three to five minutes, substituted for the rubbing-sheet.
May 16th, 1845.—Patient was declared perfectly well. He had gone the whole of the winter without stockings, neckcloth, or waistcoat, wearing only linen coat and trousers, and sleeping with his windows wide open. When I saw him at Gräfenberg, in May, I thought I never saw a man in such robust rude health in my life.
This case made a great sensation at Hamburg, as the party is well known on the exchange of that city.
Sciatica.—A soldier aged 35, after having been three months in the hospital with Sciatica, without relief, was cured in five days by the following treatment:—
In the morning sweating process and cold bath; noon, two rubbing-sheets; afternoon, the same; much rubbing at other times with wet hands. Bandages to the part were applied, and much water drank.
This case was treated by the author at Limerick; and the following process was adopted:—
Sciatica and Lumbago.—Patient ordered:—Morning, four rubbing-sheets; at noon, the same; afternoon the same, and if necessary, to be repeated on going to bed. The usual interval of time between each sheet to be observed, and parts affected covered in bandages. The treatment to have been repeated next day, had not the first removed the pains.
In all cases of this nature, Rubbing with wet hands is highly beneficial, and sometimes Enemas of cold water should be resorted to. If obstinate, the sweating process must be employed. I knew a very severe acute case of Sciatica and Lumbago relieved in two days, by the application of four rubbing-sheets at four intervals during the day, and the evening bandages were applied, and water drunk in abundance.
Lumbago or Rick in the Back.—A young man woke early in the morning with a most excruciating pain in his loins. He could not determine whether it was simply Lumbago, or a Rick in the back, brought on from playing at skittles or chopping wood the day before.
Priessnitz had him turned on his stomach, his back rubbed for an hour with wet hands, and then covered with a bandage.
The Rubbing was to be repeated every four hours, and the bandage changed every two hours.
The patient was to remain lying on his stomach the whole day and night if not cured. The reason for this must be evident to those who reflect upon it. Cured the same day.
Violent attack of Lumbago, supposed to have been brought on by using the dumb-bells; the party being unaccustomed to their use.
Patient had rubbing with wet hands, and wearing a bandage for two days, when he could hardly rise from a chair; then he commenced the following treatment:—
Saturday.—Morning, packing-sheet for an hour, followed by three rubbing-sheets; noon, two rubbing-sheets and an Enema; night, a rubbing-sheet. This was not renewed at night, as patient’s extremities were cold and prevented his sleeping.
Sunday.—Four rubbing-sheets; after this operation, the improvement was almost miraculous. Patient took a long walk.
Monday.—Treatment as yesterday; could turn in bed with less difficulty.
Tuesday.—Packing-sheet forty minutes, preceded by a tepid-bath sixteen minutes, with great friction; noon, four rubbing-sheets; evening, loins rubbed with wet hands for half-an-hour.
Wednesday.—Slept well and could turn with ease in bed; three rubbing-sheets and friction thrice during the day with wet hands.
Drank fourteen tumblers of water daily, and wore a bandage night and day.
Thursday.—Perfectly well. By the means here described, patient’s bowels were kept in order; his tongue always clean. Had his treatment failed, the sweating process must have been resorted to.
This is another of those complaints that baffle medical skill, and upon which medical men are at issue as to the cause; some alleging it to be a derangement of the nervous system, others think it is in the humours of the body, which contain an acrimony irritating to the nerves.
The result of my observation is, that if under the Water cure, it is not cured in three months, it is extremely doubtful if it will succumb to that treatment. Dr. Munde doubted if purely nervous Tic-doloureux was curable by any process; but speaks more positively as to that which arises from acrimonious humour. He says, “I speak with a perfect knowledge of this disease, having suffered for three years, and having made observations upon several others who suffered severely from this complaint. Eight months’ treatment cured me after trying all other remedies in vain.”
I knew a patient who had laboured under Tic in his head for fourteen or fifteen years, perfectly cured in three months. His treatment was the same as for Rheumatism.
Another patient put a bandage to her face at night, whilst under a paroxysm of Tic; this increased the pain, the reason of which was, her not having prepared the system first. Next day she underwent the sweating process, and could then wear the bandage with great advantage.
A person, whom I knew, suffering from Tic in his legs, made no progress because of the injudicious use of the Douche. The Douche was abandoned, and the packing-sheet and tepid bath twice a day substituted with great advantage.
Anothercase of severeTic came under my notice, that resisted all treatment. The paroxysm was only allayed by very long tepid baths 62°, and great friction.
Obstinate case of Tic in the Thigh.—This case is given toshew the way in which Priessnitz meets extraordinary circumstances.
H. from Berlin, aged 54, had a settled pain down one of his thighs; he was treated for it seven years ago at Gräfenberg. In a few months he thought himself cured. For seven years he felt no inconvenience, and lived as he had formerly done. At the expiration of that period, pain returned; not wishing to devote so much time to the cure as he knew it would require at Gräfenberg, he went to Carlsbad, where the pain became insupportable. In this state he again had recourse to Priessnitz. He has now been there four months, undergoing a vigorous treatment of packing-sheets, baths, rubbing-sheets, and sitz-baths, varied in an infinity of ways, without experiencing much benefit; his sleep, which has been disturbed the last eighteen months, still continues so.
Nearly all the sleep he obtains is in the packing-sheet. In this he lies from his arm-pits down to his thighs, from 9 to 11 o’clock at night, and again from 2 to 4 o’clock in the morning. At 6 o’clock he commences his usual treatment. The last fortnight before I left Gräfenberg, pain had ceased, but his sleeping was as disturbed as usual.
A delicate lady, aged twenty-five: morning, packing-sheet until warm and tepid bath; noon, rubbing-sheet and sitz-bath; afternoon, rubbing-sheet.
After a few days’ treatment, catamenia came on, notwithstanding which, as patient experienced no inconvenience, the treatment was continued as before. In two days, pain in the abdomen and hips was felt. All the previous treatment was now discontinued, and three rubbing-sheets a day were prescribed, until pain ceased, when it was again resumed.
Throat, and pain at the chest, were cured in six weeks, and patient had gained eight pounds in weight.
This lady thought she had an affection of the heart. Priessnitz enquired if she felt pain there: she answered no. “Then,” said he, “the heart is sound.” Three years ago, catamenia lasted only five days, but latterly it extended to seven. Priessnitz said, with her it ought only to last three or four days. Thiswas effected. Her husband, who had occasional attacks of bile, gained nine pounds in six weeks. I attended the weighing of these parties, and can vouch for the fact.